61: The plan was as scheduled, but ahead of schedule.

As expected.

The first attempt at Alchemy went smoothly.

Five Return Origin Pills: four Low Grade and one Medium Grade.

"Does this count as me being a First-Tier Medium Grade Alchemist?"

Lu Xian's lips curled slightly.

This seemingly simple Return Origin Pill was not priced affordably on the market.

A single Low Grade Medicinal Pill cost seven or eight Spirit Stones, while a Medium Grade one cost double that, which ordinary, bottom-tier Loose Cultivators simply could not afford.

Most of the time, only Cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Refining would keep a few on hand for emergencies.

"The cost of raw Materials is only twenty Spirit Stones. If I sell this batch of Medicinal Pills, I can get back forty-seven Spirit Stones, a net profit of more than double. And this is just the most basic Medicinal Pill. If I were to use some rare Pill Formula, increasing the profit by several times would not be difficult..."

It was no wonder that Alchemy was renowned as the most profitable skill among the hundred arts of Cultivation.

It was even hailed by some Cultivators as the "Head of the Hundred Arts."

As long as an Alchemist mastered the refining of one type of Medicinal Pill, they basically did not need to worry about making a living.

"However, I do not need to rely on this skill to earn Spirit Stones. If I have the time, I might as well raise more Spirit Bird and Yao Beasts."

"My Alchemy only needs to serve my own Cultivation; refining the Medicinal Pill most suited to myself is enough."

With a clear goal, his actions were naturally decisive.

Lu Xian immediately spent 500 Spirit Stones at the Ten Thousand Laws Department to purchase the Pill Formula for the spirit gathering pill.

The main ingredient for this Medicinal Pill was the Spiritual Plant known as Spirit Gathering Grass; the older it was, the higher the grade of the finished Medicinal Pill.

If he could use a two-hundred-year-old First-Tier Peak Grade Spirit Gathering Grass as the main ingredient and supplement it with High Grade medicinal herbs, he might even be able to refine a Peak Grade spirit gathering pill.

"Spirit Gathering Grass itself is not rare, but a two-hundred-year-old one would probably start at three hundred Spirit Stones. It is far less cost-effective than growing it myself."

With the Spirit Field's growth speed of two years per day, he only needed one hundred days to succeed.

If he bought some that already had some age, the time could be significantly shortened...

Thinking of this, Lu Xian took out the quasi-immortal jade token and sent two messages.

"Han Feiyu: Brother Du, please keep an eye out for Spirit Gathering Grass in the black market and various shops. The age does not need to be very high; fifty years or less is fine."

"Lu Xian: Big Brother Zhang, how is business at the Pill Hall recently? I need a batch of medicinal herbs. Please help me acquire them. The list is as follows..."

Lu Xian listed some unrelated auxiliary herbs, making it impossible for others to easily deduce his true objective.

These medicinal herbs were not expensive, and regardless of their age, even seedlings would do; once transplanted into the Spirit Field, maturity was just a matter of time.

Zhang Tie replied almost instantly.

"Zhang Tie: Brother Lu, that 'marketing method' you taught me is truly miraculous!

Things like conditional discounts, bundle sales, buy-one-get-one-free... business at the Pill Hall has indeed picked up significantly.

Although it is not yet as prosperous as when Shopkeeper Huang was in charge, relying on the simple Medicinal Pills I refine, I can finally manage to sustain it.

As for the Materials you mentioned, leave it to me; I will definitely collect them within a month!"

After a brief exchange with Zhang Tie.

A positive reply also came from Du Qinghong.

Having helpers is convenient.

There is no need to do everything personally; otherwise, the time for Cultivation would be fragmented and broken.

Theoretically, a Cultivator with a Medium Grade Spiritual Root can fully Cultivate to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining before the age of sixty, even if relying solely on absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

It is not that there is no chance to enter a Sect afterwards.

But the reality is.

Cultivators are ultimately just Cultivators; they have not truly achieved Immortal Ascension, so it is simply impossible to avoid being entangled in trivial matters.

Due to various circumstances, the speed of Cultivation will always be greatly reduced.

The current arrangement is what allows Lu Xian to Cultivate in peace.

"According to the last experience, for the Cangye Sect recruitment, a total score of at least 220 is required to safely enter the Outer Sect. This time, I cannot expose my five-element concurrent cultivation and Physical Body strength. Counting as a normal Ninth Layer of Qi Refining is 90, High Grade Formation Master is 80, and talent is fixed at 50, which is just right."

Lu Xian learned from the lessons of the last recruitment.

It is too shocking for a Loose Cultivator to practice five-element concurrent cultivation; it is better to be prudent.

It is enough to control his Cultivation base at around the tenth layer.

Thus, he planned to push forward with both Body Refining and Qi Refining for the remaining eight or nine months.

Since completing the third blood and Qi transformation and reaching the Perfection of the sixth layer, the Spirit Devouring Bone Transformation Scripture had seen no progress.

Before entering the Sect, if his Physical Body were to achieve Foundation Establishment first, it would also be a good choice.

Thinking of this, Lu Xian stood up and went to the adjacent [livestock pen].

Among the ten compartments, six were already housing Yao Beasts.

Three Bristle-Haired Antelopes, two Gray-Backed Yaks, and one Bamboo Shadow Turtle.

Lu Xian examined them for a moment; he was tired of eating the first two types, so he might as well make some turtle soup.

It would be a good change of pace and would help with blood and Qi transformation.

He picked up the adult turtle, which weighed a full three hundred jin.

At this moment, it seemed to foresee its fate and desperately stretched its neck, trying to bite Lu Xian.

The Bamboo Shadow Turtle bit down with all its might, but there was not even a mark on the skin of Lu Xian's forearm.

Stepping into the kitchen, Lu Xian took out his Magical Artifact.

"To be able to die under my, Lu Xian's, Peak Grade Flying Sword, your turtle life is worth it."

Although this Bamboo Shadow Turtle's life was not long, not counting the time before, it had only been here with him for a mere hundred days or so.

He skillfully drained its blood, cut it into pieces, and blanched them in a pot, without adding any seasonings, purely simmering it over low heat.

Four hours later, the fragrant Bamboo Shadow Turtle soup was finally ready.

As the soup entered his stomach, Lu Xian felt his whole body burning hot, his blood and Qi surging, and it felt as if a ball of evil fire was darting around below his abdomen.

A great tonic!

A great tonic indeed!

Lu Xian hurriedly circulated the Spirit Devouring Bone Transformation Scripture, enduring the intense pain as he charged towards the seventh layer.

...

A month later, the large basin of Bamboo Shadow Turtle soup had been completely eaten by Lu Xian.

Lu Xian rested for a moment and inspected his own body.

The blood and Qi inside his body were surging like a tide, and from his flesh to his bones, a comprehensive, slow transformation was taking place, but there was still a small distance to go before his Physical Body could achieve Foundation Establishment.

"It is expected to take another two or three months... Today is the day to hand over the profits. Two days ago, Du Qinghong and Zhang Tie both said they found the medicinal herbs, so I can just retrieve them all at once... Also, that Wood-Nurturing Soil, the Spirit Planter should have finished making it as well."

Lu Xian cast a Cleansing Spell to clean off the slight Impurities discharged from his skin.

After changing his clothes and slightly adjusting his appearance, he went to the courtyard in the city via the teleportation array.

"Brother Han, you have come out of seclusion. This is the profit from the Du Family last month, totaling 2163 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. As for the Spirit Bird..."

Du Qinghong reported the various income and expenditures in detail.

Lu Xian did not listen carefully; he trusted the other party implicitly regarding profit matters, and there had never been any mistakes.

However, he still asked: "Why is it nearly three hundred less than the previous few months?"

"That is exactly what I wanted to say. Originally, the Spirit Bird such as the Jade Marrow Chicken were bought by the Drunken Immortal Tower on a regular basis, about a dozen each month. But last month... last month, the Kong Family suddenly announced that the Drunken Immortal Tower would no longer be managed by them and was handed over to the Zhang Family to take over!"

"The Zhang Family's reputation has been extremely poor recently, with frequent reports of arson, killing, and looting, and many Fellow Daoists have suffered."

"I did not dare to go and sell there, and the Hundred Flavors Studio could not fully digest them, so I had to resell them to other restaurants that do not specialize in Spirit Bird, and the price was naturally lowered slightly."

Du Qinghong explained it very clearly.

After listening, Lu Xian frowned and pondered.

The Drunken Immortal Tower had actually changed hands.

Thinking back to those days, his first pot of gold was the one hundred or so Spirit Stones he got from selling three Jade Marrow Chickens to Kong Shan.

Lu Xian could not help but sigh with emotion.

The Kong Family was in last place in the last grand competition; it was normal for resources to be snatched away, but he did not expect that even the Drunken Immortal Tower could not be kept.

"There is one more thing, I wonder if Brother Han is aware."

Du Qinghong hesitated for a moment and asked.

"What is it?" Lu Xian asked casually.

"The Cangye Sect's recruitment this time is going to be half a year early!" Du Qinghong said, his words shocking.

"Hm?" Lu Xian was indeed surprised. "Tell me in detail."

A few days ago, he had planned everything and was prepared to proceed as usual.

If this matter is true.

That really confirms the saying of the ancients: plans cannot keep up with changes.